Cousins posts double-double in Vegas debut

Workers removed the giant banner of former Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in downtown Cleveland on Sunday. In the hours after James announced he was leaving, fans hurled rocks at the 10-﻿story sign.
AP

DeMarcus Cousins' pro debut looked a lot like one of his typical games as a Kentucky Wildcat.

The Sacramento Kings rookie, the No. 5 overall pick in the NBA Draft, posted a double-double in his team's 97-68 rout of the Detroit Pistons in the Las Vegas Summer League on Monday.

Cousins, who had 20 doubles-doubles as a freshman at UK last season, had 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Five Kings scored in double figures, led by Omri Casspi's 15. Casspri averaged 10.3 points for the Kings as a rookie last season.

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■ Former Louisville big man Derrick Caracter, playing with the Lakers, posted team highs in points (16) and rebounds (10), but Los Angeles fell to New York 71-63 in a summer-league game.

Stern rejects tampering claims against Heat

NBA Commissioner David Stern on Monday dismissed any notion of tampering charges being filed against the Miami Heat over its free-agent recruitment of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

"There is nothing here, at this time, that is causing us to launch an investigation," Stern said at a news conference in Las Vegas.

Stern said there has been no request for a tampering investigation among the league's 30 owners, who met in advance of his media briefing, with Nick Arison, son of Heat owner Micky Arison, representing the Heat.

There had been concern by some teams about Wade, Bosh and James conspiring in advance of the July 1 start of free agency, with James eventually leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers and Bosh leaving the Toronto Raptors.

"The three players are totally, as our system has evolved, within their rights to talk to each other," Stern said. "That is not tampering or collusion that is prohibited. That's our rule, right now."

Stern said he also took no issue with the Heat hoarding salary-cap space to make such a move this off-season.

Stern, however, fined Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert $100,000 for his caustic written rebuke to James' decision to play in South Florida.

Stern also chastised Rev. Jesse Jackson for bringing race into the debate over Gilbert's comments.

Chandler wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday night that his agent, Jeff Schwartz, informed him that he's being traded. A Bobcats spokesman said no deal is complete, and General Manager Rod Higgins didn't return messages.

The Toronto Star reported the Suns would get Turkoglu and send guard Leandro Barbosa to the Raptors, then move guard Jose Calderon and forward Reggie Evans to Charlotte for Chandler and forward Boris Diaw. The report said the deal is pending league approval.

Haslem back with Miami

MIAMI — Udonis Haslem is staying with Miami. Haslem signed a five-year deal Monday worth around $20 million, more than $10 million less than he could have gotten had he accepted offers from the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.

"I would be changing my DNA if I left just for money," Haslem said.

Haslem has been teammates with Dwyane Wade for each of their previous seven NBA seasons, and Wade wanted that relationship to continue.

■ Minnesota and Miami completed their trade that sends Michael Beasley to Minnesota for two second-round picks and cash considerations.

Fisher staying with Lakers

LOS ANGELES — Derek Fisher says he's staying with Los Angeles.

The veteran point guard announced Monday in a statement on his Web site that he'll re-sign with the Lakers.

The five-time NBA champion entertained offers from other teams as a free agent, including a recent conversation with the Heat. He decided not to leave the franchise where he has spent 11 of his 14 NBA seasons.

Witness LeBron's goodbye

CLEVELAND — LeBron James has left the building.

Workers have finished removing a gigantic Nike banner featuring James, a sign that hung on the side of a downtown office building for years and served as a background for the Cleveland Cavaliers' success during the seven years he played for them.

The mural was taken down after James announced he was leaving Cleveland as a free agent to play with fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. In the hours after James' announcement, some angry Cavaliers fans hurled rocks at the 10-story sign that featured James with his arms outstretched after tossing powder into the air under the heading: "We Are All Witnesses."

Around the league

Spurs: San Antonio signed 6-foot-11 center Tiago Splitter, three years after drafting the heralded big man from Brazil. Splitter, 25, was the MVP of the Spanish League last season.

Pacers: Indianapolis officials and the Pacers have reached a deal to keep the team in Conseco Fieldhouse for the next three seasons while the city pays $10 million a year for running the arena.

■ Pacers center Roy Hibbert won't need surgery after injuring his right knee while training with the Jamaican national team in the Dominican Republic. Last week's injury was a mild strain of his right patellar tendon. The Pacers cleared him to renew summer workouts immediately.

Magic: A person familiar with the negotiations said Orlando has agreed to a deal with free agent Quentin Richardson.

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